Saudi Arabia Names Salman New Crown Prince

He will become deputy prime minister
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 18, 2012 10:57 AM CDT
Saudi Arabia Names Salman New Crown Prince
In this Monday, May 14, 2012 photo, Saudi defense minister Prince Salman bin Abdel-Aziz welcomes Gulf Arab leaders, not pictured.   (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

As expected, Saudi Arabia today named Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz the new crown prince following the death of Crown Prince Nayef, who was buried yesterday. Salman, now next in line to the throne, will remain defense minister and will also become deputy prime minister. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz will replace Nayef as interior minister, CNN reports, citing state media. A Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesperson calls Nayef's death "a shock," noting that the crown prince was frail, but "we still don't know the reason behind his death." (More Saudi Arabia stories.)

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